Its too early to tell how this will pan out but for those who understand Melbournes local geography, as I write there are currently reports of fire in Upwey in the Dandenongs just near Ferntree Gully outside of Melbourne. This is a heavily treed and heavily populated area with only narrow windy roads.

Talk back radio is reporting road closures and traffic jams and the tone of the calls so far is along the lines of panic rising with reports of smoke rising and Helicopters all over the place. As I write, pre school centres in Wellington rd are being evacuated and people are being stopped from travelling into the area.

Hopefully there wont be any major cause for panic and the anticipated wind change will not make things any worse and that there will be enough resources dedicated to nipping the whole thing in the bud. If not a real fire scenario defies thinking about.

I have rels at the foot of the mountain. Guess I'd better call them now.

Cheers,

Andrez